Bonsai Wire

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Plants, art, and experience wired to perfection. Join bonsai artists Jonas Dupuich, John Eads, Michael Hagedorn, and Andrew Robson for roundtable debates on hot button topics and interviews with bonsai luminaries. Connect with us at talk@bonsaiwirepodcast.com; learn more about our exemplary sponsors.

Bonsai Wire


    • Dec 4, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 69 EPISODES

    4.9 from 72 ratings Listeners of Bonsai Wire that love the show mention: bonsai, knowledge, guys, great, thank, love.


    Ivy Insights

    The Bonsai Wire podcast is a truly delightful and informative show that caters to bonsai enthusiasts of all levels. As someone who recently purchased some bonsai books and has been eager to learn more about this ancient art form, I was thrilled to stumble upon this podcast. The hosts, Jonas and Michael, along with their guests, share a wealth of valuable advice and captivating stories that have helped me deepen my understanding and appreciation for bonsai.

    One of the best aspects of The Bonsai Wire podcast is the vast amount of knowledge shared by the hosts and their guests. Whether it's discussing different styles of bonsai, sharing techniques for pruning and shaping trees, or delving into the history and philosophy behind this art form, there is always something new to learn from each episode. The hosts' passion for bonsai shines through in their engaging dialogue and storytelling, making it a pleasure to listen to.

    Furthermore, I particularly enjoy the camaraderie among the hosts and their guests on the show. Their friendly banter, humor, and genuine enthusiasm create a welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel like you're partaking in a conversation among friends. This not only adds an enjoyable dynamic to the podcast but also fosters a sense of community for bonsai enthusiasts around the world.

    While there are countless positive aspects of The Bonsai Wire podcast, one potential downside is that some episodes may cater more towards experienced practitioners. As someone who is relatively new to bonsai, I occasionally find myself struggling to grasp certain concepts or terminologies mentioned during discussions. However, this minor drawback doesn't take away from the overall value and enjoyment I derive from listening to this podcast.

    In conclusion, The Bonsai Wire podcast is an exceptional resource for anyone interested in bonsai or looking to deepen their skills in this beautiful art form. The dedication of the hosts in sharing their love for bonsai shines through each episode, making it both educational and entertaining. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced bonsai enthusiast, this podcast is sure to inspire and enrich your journey in the world of bonsai.



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    Latest episodes from Bonsai Wire

    Chat with Chase Rosade

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 51:05


    Host Michael Hagedorn talks with bonsai luminary Chase Rosade and Kevin Faris (of the Bonsai Time podcast) about the early days of bonsai in the US and some of the adventures that followed.

    2024 Expo Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 64:39


    Hosts and Expo Board members Eric, Andrew, and Jonas share highlights from the 2nd Pacific Bonsai Expo.Links:- Expo videos- Photos of award winning trees- Scans of Expo trees from 3D Bonsai- How we created the Expo backdrops

    Leveling up - approaches to improving your bonsai practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 54:49


    Andrew Robson and Maciej Adwent address the question of how we can "get better at bonsai." This is the first episode of the Deciduous Bonsai Podcast featuring Andrew and Maciej.

    Olives, olives, and more olives - chat with Cesar Ordoñez

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 81:25


    (Following a brief discussion about custom car sound systems - and the music that played on them), hosts Eric and Jonas chat with Cesar Ordoñez about collecting and growing a hardy species that thrives in the heat - the olive. 

    Chat with Mike Pistello

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 61:32


    Host Eric talks with Mike Pistello about his bonsai history, growing bonsai in the Bay Area, and showing bonsai in exhibits.

    Chat with Bernard Marque and David Scheltema

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 68:08


    Host Eric Schrader chats with Bonsai Society of San Francisco members Bernard Marque and David Scheltema about growing bonsai in a mild climate and the learning opportunities they've experienced working with their club.

    Eric chats with Jay and Greg McDonald

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 74:36


    Just about everyone in the Bay Area bonsai scene knows about bonsai bros Jay and Greg McDonald, two of the most enthusiastic bonsai spokespeople in Northern California. Join Eric in a wide ranging conversation with Jay and Greg about their adventures in bonsai.

    Eric chats with Sam Tan about California Natives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 53:47


    Join host Eric Schrader in conversation with Sam Tan about Coast redwood and Monterey cypress.

    Getting excited about bonsai exhibits

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2024 56:54


    Eric and Jonas talk about their early experiences at bonsai shows and provide an update about the Pacific Bonsai Expo.

    Chat with Richard Wright

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 106:09


    Which trees would you keep if you had to narrow your collection down to three trees? What would you look to acquire if you lost all of your trees?South African bonsai grower Richard Wright has faced these and similar questions more than once since he started working with small trees, and he's found that the experience has given him great focus in life and in bonsai. Learn more about Rich:Bonsai Rich on IGI am Richard Wright (personal website)

    Jury Secrets Revealed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 74:39


    Eric and Jonas chat about what jury members are looking for in the trees selected for the Pacific Bonsai Expo.

    How you've been growing junipers wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2024 87:36


    Jonas and Eric talk about common mistakes juniper growers make and what you can do instead.Juniper eCourse

    Eric and Jonas Chat about Jurying and Judging the Expo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2024 70:55


    The submission period for the 2024 Expo has closed and Eric and Jonas discuss next steps with a focus on the Expo's goals for the jury and judging processes.

    Updates about the 2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 44:32


    Host Jonas talks with Eric Schrader about what's been going on behind the scenes in preparation for this year's Pacific Bonsai Expo.Pacific Bonsai Expo images on Flickr:https://www.flickr.com/photos/pacificbonsaiexpo/

    A casual conversation about growing trees with Michael and John

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2023 31:24


    John and Michael sit down over some tea and discuss some of the benefits of empowering hobbyists to grow and develop trees from scratch in their back yards with the oversight of the professional community.  Happy Holidays from all of us a the Bonsai Wire!

    Bonsai Central: How to run a bonsai convention

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 83:42


    Jonas talks with Nathan Bill, Jesse Gilbertson, and Tim Hutson about next year's Bonsai Central, an ambitious bonsai convention hosted by the Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis. Links:- Convention website- Registration- Submit a tree to the exhibit

    Corin Tomlinson: a life in bonsai

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 83:41


    Jonas speaks with UK bonsai artist Corin Tomlinson of Greenwood Bonsai Studio about growing up with bonsai, the UK bonsai scene, and building a life and business around bonsai.Corin was in the US as a headliner for the 8th US National Bonsai Exhibition. The two caught up in Bill Valavanis' backyard on a beautiful day following the exhibition.Visit Corin's YouTube channel and website.Image courtesy Greenwood Bonsai Studio

    Why should one go to the US National Bonsai Exhibition?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 29:16


    Jonas interviews attendees at the 8th US National Bonsai Exhibition.

    Chat with Dylan Ferreira

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 75:20


    In this episode, Jonas catches up with Dylan Ferreira. Dylan runs Cedar Rose Bonsai & Specialty Nursery in Placerville, California where he grows pre-bonsai and material for accent plants.Contact Dylan about plant availability at 707-217-8314 or ferreira.dylan2@gmail.com.

    Shade Cloth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2023 20:35


    Hosts Carmen Leskoviansky and Michael Hagedorn talk about the benefits of shade cloth - the number one ally for keeping trees healthy in warm weather.

    shade cloth
    Chat with Martin Walters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 63:11


    In this episode, Jonas chats with Martin Walters about the New Zealand bonsai scene, working with New Zealand native species, and his club, Kenzo Bonsai.New Zealand natives mentioned in this episode:KauriTotaraPohutukawaIG: @nz_bonsai_martinFB: Martin Walters Bonsai

    Michael and Jonas chat about bonsai containers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2023 48:42


    Having spent years making bonsai pots, host Michael Hagedorn shares his perspective on the containers in which we grow our trees. 

    Chat with Cesar Ordoñez

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 48:05


    Enthusiasm for bonsai is what shines through when host Jonas Dupuich talks with Cesar Ordoñez of CenCal Bonsai. Cesar talks about keeping trees alive in the Central California Valley and shares his story of getting started with bonsai by learning from different teachers across the state.Note: this episode contains spicy language.Follow Cesar at:https://www.instagram.com/cencalbonsai/https://www.youtube.com/@cencalbonsai6429

    Chat with Bob Pressler and Michael Roberts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 69:06


    Host Jonas Dupuich talks with Bob Pressler of Kimura Bonsai Nursery and Michael Roberts, president of the Golden State Bonsai Federation, about bonsai in California, bringing in teachers from around the world, the need for developing bonsai teachers, and the upcoming GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous.Image: Japanese black pine at the Kimura Bonsai Nursery

    Grafting natives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2023 33:09


    In this mini episode recorded last fall, hosts Jonas and Andrew discuss the pros and cons of grafting exotic foliage on native conifers.

    Learning and teaching pine techniques

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 56:32


    Host Jonas Dupuich chats with Eric Schrader about the best ways to teach how to grow pines from scratch.Eric's new course about growing shohin black pine from seed is available at Bonsaify.com.

    Andrew and Jonas talk with Sam Tan and Addison Galambos

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2023 39:14


    At long last - we're back! Our publishing schedule isn't fully back to normal yet but we'd like to share a few episodes we recorded last fall while we gear up for what's next.In this episode, Sam and Addison talk tell us how they progressed so rapidly in bonsai both in their studies and in the organizations that they help run, respectively, the Bonsai Society of San Francisco and East Bay Bonsai Society.(Photo: Coast redwood by Sam Tan as exhibited at the Pacific Bonsai Expo; image by Aki Yamakawa)

    Pacific Bonsai Expo recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2022 93:37


    Andrew Robson discusses the Pacific Bonsai Expo with organizers Jonas Dupuich and Eric Schrader.

    Show prep - 7 tips to make your trees look their best

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 48:35


    Co-hosts Andrew and Jonas review their top 7 tips for preparing trees for exhibit.

    Why visit bonsai shows?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2022 37:26


    Co-hosts Andrew and Jonas chat about one of their favorite pastimes - visiting bonsai exhibitions.

    Warm weather bonsai care

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 26:06


    Andrew and Jonas chat about keeping bonsai happy during heat spells.

    Andrew chats with Eric and Jonas about the Expo

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 83:50


    Why put on the Pacific Bonsai Expo? How's the planning going? What can we do to help? Andrew Robson chats with Eric Schrader and Jonas Dupuich to find out.Pacific Bonsai Expo Website

    Carmen and Michael talk accents

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 41:37


    Carmen and Michael discuss accent plants and Kusamono - the Japanese botanical art of creating potted arrangements of grasses and flowers to express season and place. 

    Andrew and Jonas talk shohin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 72:51


    In this episode, hosts Andrew Robson and Jonas Dupuich admit to a growing fascination with shohin bonsai.

    Farm to Table Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2022 82:56


    Hosts Andrew and Jonas reflect on their experiences at "Farm to Table," an event hosted by the Bonsai Society of Portland that celebrated the legacy of Telperion farms and provided participants with concrete steps for developing field-grown material.

    Chat with John Romano

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 51:37


    In this episode, noted shohin authority John Romano talks with host Andrew Robson about growing and appreciating small bonsai.

    Learn Field Growing at BSOP's Farm to Table

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 49:30


    Co-hosts Andrew and Jonas give an overview of the Bonsai Society of Portland's upcoming seminar, Farm to Table, and discuss all things related to long-term development of quality bonsai.Learn more about Farm to Table at: https://www.portlandbonsai.org

    ABAS Exhibit Critique

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2022 32:41


    Andrew and Jonas critique the 62nd American Bonsai Association Sacramento exhibit held April 9-10 in Sacramento, California. See Bonsai Tonight for photos of the trees mentioned in this episode:https://bonsaitonight.com/2022/04/15/highlights-from-the-abass-62nd-annual-exhibit/

    Gender Disparity in American Bonsai - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 55:34


    Carmen Leskoviansky chats with Samantha Holm about her article "Gender Disparity in American Bonsai" which was published this past summer in Vol. 55 of Bonsai: The Journal of the American Bonsai Society, and the creation the The Purple Pot Society, a national bonsai society focused on uplifting women in bonsai.LinksGender Disparity in American BonsaiThe Purple Pot Society Women in Bonsai: Part 1Women in Bonsai: Part 2Women in Bonsai: Part 3

    2021 Wrap-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 47:15


    Happy New Year! (And apologies for the delay.) In this episode, Andrew and Jonas review lessons from 2021 and highlights they're looking forward to in 2022.

    Introduction to the Pacific Bonsai Expo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2021 32:21


    In this episode, Jonas talks with Eric Schrader about next year's Pacific Bonsai Expo to be held in Oakland, CA, on November 12-13. For a video version of this episode, see the Bonsaify channel on YouTube.

    Chat with Nao Tokutake

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 51:01


    Andrew Robson and Jonas Dupuich catch up with Portland ceramicist Nao Tokutake and learn about how great bonsai pots are made.

    Short Interviews at the US National Exhibition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 65:10


    Hosts Andrew Robson and Jonas Dupuich catch up with friends at the 7th US National Exhibition in Rochester, New York. Find a complete list of guests from this episode along with photos of the exhibition at Bonsai Tonight.

    U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Critique

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 56:04


    Hosts Andrew Robson and Jonas Dupuich, joined by special guest Nao Tokutake, share their thoughts about ten special trees at the 2021 U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. See photos of the trees discussed at: https://bonsaitonight.com/2021/09/24/u-s-national-exhibition-critique/

    Carmen's first apprentice check-in

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 39:15


    Michael sits down with Carmen to talk about the first months of her apprenticeship.  Carmen shares her experience surviving the “heat dome,” describes early summer work, and outlines goals for what she wants to accomplish and explore over the next three years.

    Andrew and Jonas recommend three species for development as bonsai

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021 41:26


    Hosts Andrew Robson and Jonas Dupuich would like to see more diverse species developed as bonsai. Tune in to find out their top three recommendations.

    Chat with Sergio Cuan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2021 89:32


    In this episode, host Andrew Robson talks with noted deciduous expert Sergio Cuan about one of their favorite topics: deciduous bonsai.

    Bonsai Evaluation with Jonas and Andrew

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 38:18


    How do we recognize excellence at bonsai exhibitions? In this episode, Jonas and Andrew discuss different approaches to evaluating bonsai as they prepare for the inaugural Pacific Bonsai Exposition in November, 2022.

    Chat with John Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 76:17


    Oaks are a fantastic genus for training as bonsai, and John "JT" Thompson is an expert when it comes to oaks. In this episode, JT shares with Jonas the story of how he was introduced to bonsai in Japan, how he developed a love for oaks, and practical tips for how he trains oaks in his Northern California garden.

    Andrew and Michael chat about chojubai

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2021 47:12


    What are the best ways to grow, style, and propagate the dwarf flowering Japanese quince known as "chojubai"? In this episode, Andrew and Michael talk through their approach to the popular species.

    Spring Roundtable

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 75:43


    This week the full team, John, Michael, Andrew, and Jonas chat about the tasks after repotting including maple and spruce pinching, pine decandling, choosing shade cloth, and that unending bonsai topic, fertilizing.

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